Body lumen filters with large surface area anchors

Abstract

As described herein, a body lumen filter ( 100 ) is provided that includes a body configured to move between a pre-deployed state and a deployed state. In the deployed state, the body has filtering openings ( 150 ) defined therein. The body lumen filter also includes at least one anchor ( 140 ) coupled to the body, the anchor including a base and a bulbed ( 170 ) portion, having a major cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a major cross-sectional dimension of the base.

1 . A body lumen filter, comprising:
 a body configured to move between a pre-deployed state and a deployed state, wherein in the deployed state the body has filtering openings defined therein; and   at least one anchor coupled to the body, the anchor including a base and a bulbed portion, the bulbed portion having a major cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a major cross-sectional dimension of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The body lumen filter of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first end and a second end and wherein the anchor is associated with the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The body lumen filter of  claim 2 , wherein the second end is wider than the first end when the body is in a deployed state. 
     
     
         4 . The body lumen filter of  claim 2 , wherein the anchor has a generally ovoid shape. 
     
     
         5 . The body lumen filter of  claim 1 , wherein the bulbed portion includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion and wherein each of the first end, the intermediate portion and the second end have a major cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a cross section of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The body lumen filter of  claim 5 , wherein the intermediate portion has an elliptical cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         7 . The body lumen filter of  claim 6 , wherein the first end is rounded. 
     
     
         8 . The body lumen filter of  claim 5 , wherein the major cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate portion is larger than the major cross-sectional dimension of the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The body lumen filter of  claim 8 , wherein the major cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate portion is larger than the major cross-sectional dimension of the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The body lumen filter of  claim 1 , wherein a primary axis is defined along a length of the base and wherein the bulbed anchor is at least partially offset relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         11 . The body lumen filter of  claim 1 , wherein a primary axis is defined along a length of the base and wherein the bulbed anchor is centered relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         12 . The body lumen filter of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a plurality of struts and junctions joining adjacent struts. 
     
     
         13 . A body lumen filter, comprising:
 a body configured to move between a pre-deployed state and a deployed state,   a plurality of anchors secured to the body, the anchors being configured to engage a body vessel at a deployment site with a force effective to maintain the body at the deployment site while having a surface area sufficient to prevent penetration of the anchors through an inner surface of the body lumen while the body is in the deployed state at the deployment site.   
     
     
         14 . The body lumen filter of  claim 13 , wherein the anchors have an engagement surface area of between about 0.10 mm 2  and about 150 mm 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The body lumen filter of  claim 13 , wherein each anchor includes a base coupled to the body and a bulbed portion coupled to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The body lumen filter of  claim 15 , wherein the bulbed portion has a generally ovoid shape. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising
 a body lumen filter including a body having at least one anchor coupled to the body, the anchor including a base and a bulbed portion, the bulbed portion having cross-sectional dimensions that are larger than a largest cross-sectional dimension of the base;   a deployment device configured to move the body lumen filter between a pre-deployed state and a deployed state, wherein in the deployed state the body has filtering openings defined therein.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bulbed portion has a generally ovoid shape. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the bulbed portion has an engagement surface area of between about 0.10 mm 2  and about 150 mm 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the body is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         21 . A method for filtering a body lumen, the method comprising:
 providing a body lumen filter comprising:
 a body configured to move between a pre-deployed state and a deployed state, wherein in the deployed state the body has filtering openings defined therein; and 
 at least one anchor coupled to the body, the anchor including a bulbed portion, the bulbed portion having a major cross-sectional dimension that is larger than a major cross-sectional dimension of the body; 
   longitudinally elongating the body such that the body lumen filter has a reduced dimension;   delivering the body lumen filter to a desired deployment site within the body lumen; and   longitudinally reducing the body such that the body lumen filter has an enlarged dimension and the at least one anchor applies radial forces to an inner wall of the body lumen.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising after longitudinally reducing the body, longitudinally elongating the body such that the body lumen filter has a reduced dimension and removing the body lumen filter from the desired deployment site within the body lumen.